Unleash dem horsies!
 

So in a few days I will be home, back on the mainland with actual roads and more importantly back to tackle the SV #gulp# / #yippeeeeee#

After two months away and no safety net of the YBR to fall back on, I will have three weeks to fully accustom myself to the 650 before potentially riding to Scotland end of July. I am off to another island but only for a week this time and it's possible I'll be able to wangle a bit of a lift anyway but obviously depending how I get on with the SV I'd love to ride up seeing as I've missed the GM this year. Tis about 350 miles but I wouldn't be doing it all in one go. Do ya think I can do it? Or is it just pure madness to be even contemplating it...


Just out of interest, how long was it before you launched into your first long distance ride after passing your test? Time for a small poll (purely because I haven't made one for ages :-P) ...

Re: Unleash dem horsies!
 

When I was a young lad of 16 with a battered FS1E I used to spend every 48 hour leave from the army with my girlfriend. That meant riding 120 miles each way between Arborfield near Reading and Narborough just outside Leicester, via Bedford to pop in to see my mum. Max speed 40mph with my kitbag tied to the back seat and rack, with no waterproofs or leathers. Couldn't use motorways either because it was a 50cc even though I had a full moped licence.

You'll be fine... do it.

Re: Unleash dem horsies!
 

Define long distance. I had mates who thought it was from Preston down to Cornwall. I hadn't even got a licence when I rode a kettle from Preston down to Antibe. in the 70s

Re: Unleash dem horsies!
 

I've never done a long distance ride. Used to tear around the roads winding the police up when I was was younger but not now of course!! This was before they had decent cars and cameras right, so it wasn't hard.

The longest ride I'll do will be to the AR this year. I don't think you'll have any problems, just set some stopping points and you'll be fine. It'll be fun, better than watching birds all day anyway;)

Re: Unleash dem horsies!
 

Ok well long distance where you would consider kipping over somewhere to break the journey up?

Re: Unleash dem horsies!
 

My first long distance ride and 1st time on the motorway on my own was riding down to Southampton from Morecambe (270 miles)

I think that you will be absoloutely fine if you decide to do it and it will up your confidence tons :) Maybe YC can ride part of the way up with you?

Re: Unleash dem horsies!
 

I am slightly dreading first time on motorway but might not be too bad. Combining that with first long distance ride though would be a bit much, well done you 8-) And you're definitely right about the confidence/experience thing.

Re: Unleash dem horsies!
 

I was nervous about the motorway first time, but I chose a quiet time and then went for a trip down the M5 by one junction. Did me a lot of good and as a first time experience I enjoyed it. These days I hate motorway riding, seems like such a waste when the SV is so nimble and enjoyable on fast A and B roads.

As for a first long ride, I wanted to see my Mum, so my first long trip was 100 miles, however my brother wanted a lift so my long ride was also my first with a pillion. That was some trip and taught me a lot about riding the bike.

If I am honest though, I struggle with long trips due to poor bike fitness. I start to ache after about 100 miles and really hurt by 200! People riding 300 or more miles in a day amaze me!

Re: Unleash dem horsies!
 

You'll be fine, treat it like a holiday and not an endurance trip and it'll make all the difference.

Motorways (very busy ones aside) are only to be feared on a bike for their boredom factor, they are uber-tedious and best avoided where at all possible.

Long trips is motorcycling at it's very best for me, as nice as a wee afternoon pootle is, there's just nothing better than chucking some stuff together on the back seat and heading off somewhere.

Re: Unleash dem horsies!
 

I thought you were at the CTCRM ?